IIA 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. J. RES. 36 

Providing a strategy for stabilizing Iraq and withdrawing United States 

troops. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 8, 2006 

Mr. KERRY introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

Providing a strategy for stabilizing Iraq and withdrawing 

United States troops. 

Whereas the men and women of the Armed Forces have performed with valor, honor, and courage in Iraq; 

Whereas a national unity government and a comprehensive 

political agreement among Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds are 

essential to end sectarian violence, undermine the insurgency, and bring stability to Iraq; 

Whereas, on April 22, 2006, the Iraqi National Assembly approved senior leaders of a national unity government, including Jawad al-Mailiki as Prime Minister; 

Whereas, under the Iraqi constitution, the Prime Minister 

has 30 days to form a government; 


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Whereas a comprehensive political agreement must resolve 

fundamental issues dividing Iraqis and undermining stability, including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, and border security; 

Whereas reaching a comprehensive agreement that will help 

bring stability to Iraq is in the best interests of Iraq’s 

neighbors, the region, and the international community; 

Whereas Iraq’s neighbors, representatives of the Arab 

League, and the international community as represented 

by NATO, the European Union, and the permanent 

members of the United Nations Security Council can assist in the process of bringing about such a comprehensive agreement; 

Whereas the commander of the Multinational Forces-Iraq, 

General George Casey, testified before the Committee on 

Armed Services of the Senate on September 29, 2005, 

that ‘‘[i]ncreased coalition presence feeds the notion of 

occupation . . . contributes to the dependency of Iraqi security forces on the coalition . . . [and] . . . extends the 

amount of time that it will take for Iraqi security forces 

to become self-reliant’’; 

Whereas the overwhelming majority of Iraqis wants the 

United States forces to withdraw from Iraq; 

Whereas the Armed Forces have established a training program for the security forces of Iraq that continues to 

make possible the assumption of security responsibilities 

by such security forces; and 

Whereas the withdrawal of United States forces under a 

schedule agreed upon with the new Government of Iraq 

would strengthen and legitimize that government, enable 


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the Iraqis to become more self-reliant, and undermine 

support for the insurgency: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 That— 

4 (1) United States forces shall be withdrawn 

5 from Iraq at the earliest practicable date if Iraqis 

6 fail to form a national unity government by May 22, 

7 2006; 

8 (2) if Iraqis form a national unity government 

9 by May 22, 2006— 

10 (A) the United States shall reach an agree11 ment as soon as possible with such government 

12 on a schedule for the withdrawal of United 

13 States combat troops from Iraq by December 

14 31, 2006, leaving only forces that are critical to 

15 completing the mission of standing up Iraqi se16 curity forces; and 

17 (B) the President shall consult with Con18 gress on this schedule and shall present such 

19 withdrawal agreement to Congress immediately 

20 upon completion of the agreement; 

21 (3) the President, not later than 30 days after 

22 the date of the formation of a new national unity 

23 government in Iraq, should convene a summit that 

24 includes the leaders of that government, leaders of 


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1 the governments of each country bordering Iraq, 

2 representatives of the Arab League, the Secretary 

3 General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 

4 representatives of the European Union, and leaders 

5 of the governments of each permanent member of 

6 the United Nations Security Council, for the purpose 

7 of reaching a comprehensive political agreement for 

8 Iraq that addresses fundamental issues including 

9 federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guar10 antees, reconstruction, economic assistance, and bor11 der security; and 

12 (4) the United States should maintain an over13 the-horizon military presence to prosecute the war 

14 on terror and protect regional security interests. 

Æ 


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